Dispute over Ukraine-Hungary oil pipeline endangers EU loan. Thirteen hours ago. Nick Thorpe, Budapest correspondent. Vitaliy Shevchenko,Kyiv. DSNS. A heated clash between Hungary, Slovakia, and Ukraine is delaying a vital €90bn (£77.95bn) EU loan for Ukraine. No oil has passed through the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline—from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia via Ukraine—since the key Brody hub in western Ukraine was hit in a Russian strike on 27 January. Ukraine claims it requires six additional weeks to fix the damage and resume flows, but Budapest charges Kyiv with deliberate delays as payback for Hungary’s pro-Russian, anti-Ukrainian stance. The row highlights how a single or pair of nations can halt EU decisions. It also highlights fuel issues for Hungary and Slovakia, stemming from their refusal to follow others in phasing out Russian oil since 2022. The Brody pumping station in Ukraine’s western Lviv region plays a vital role in transiting Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. Getty Images. BBC-obtained satellite images indicate that the Russian strike on January 27 hit a critical component—a massive oil tank essential for maintaining pressure and operation in the pipeline. The images show the tank smoldering post-attack, with evidence of a fire burning for days. This is Ukraine’s largest oil tank, holding 75,000 cubic meters. Ukrainian energy expert Henadiy Ryabtsev describes the damage to the Brody pumping station as extensive, potentially extending beyond the tank. He notes that the fire’s intense heat likely affected other elements, including pumps and the pipeline. “The oil burned for roughly a week, exposing everything nearby to extreme temperatures,” he told the BBC. Kyiv’s government states the Brody damage is serious and that Ukraine lacks the means for swift repairs. “It’s a technical challenge,” said Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Heorhy Tykhy to the BBC. “Our infrastructure faces daily destruction… Ukraine fixes it all, but resources are finite.” We’re engaged in all-out war, which Hungary inexplicably chooses to disregard.
